Whew! Made it through the Big Bang without too much unhappiness. Lots of local fireworks this year --- the pit bulls slept through it all and the collies made anxious ears and stuck close. (Do you have a sound-sensitive dog? Make a [free] contribution to science!) It's been quiet outside for over an hour now. One of the collies is asleep on my feet: the landshark. We'll all enjoy a restful night.
At the risk of my head exploding [TM Christie Keith] I can't help but puzzle over the requirements of the new AB 1634 revision.
On the one hand, there are seven single-spaced pages of Health and Safety Code Section 122045 - 122110 for John Q. "just one litter" Public to comply with, and a fair amount of that concerns "congenital or hereditary conditions." Example:
[I]f within one year after the purchaser has taken physical possession of the dog after the sale by a breeder, a veterinarian licensed in this state states in writing that the dog has a congenital or hereditary condition that adversely affects the health of the dog, or that requires, or is likely in the future to require, hospitalization or nonelective surgical procedures, the dog shall be considered unfit for sale, and the breeder shall provide the purchaser with any of the following remedies that the purchaser elects:
(1) Return the dog to the breeder for a refund of the purchase price, plus sales tax, and reimbursement for reasonable veterinary fees for diagnosis and treating the dog in an amount not to exceed the original purchase price of the dog, including sales tax.
(2) Exchange the dog for a dog of the purchaser's choice of equivalent value, providing a replacement dog is available, and receive reimbursement for reasonable veterinary fees for diagnosis and treating the dog in an amount not to exceed the original purchase price of the dog, plus sales tax on the original purchase price of the dog.
(3) Retain the dog, and receive reimbursement for reasonable veterinary fees for diagnosis and treating the dog in an amount not to exceed 150 percent of the original purchase price of the dog, plus sales tax.
Etcetera. This is fairly standard puppy-contract stuff.
On the other hand: AB 1634 requires JQP to breed his dog before she's old enough to get an official hip [or elbow] score from the OFA.
Unreal.
"Do NOT sell a pup that's going to develop hip dysplasia. Oh, and be sure to breed your dogs before they're old enough to get an OFA rating --- it's the law!"
"Do NOT sell a pup that's going to develop hip dysplasia. Oh, and be sure to breed your dogs before they're old enough to get an OFA rating --- it's the law!"
Yes, that popping sound was my head.
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Another thing that's making me crazy: dwelling on the number of terrific working dogs I know that belong to people who don't live on farms or ranches. (Classic case in point: everyone who knows anything about border collies is familiar with Kate Broadbent and her tremendous working dogs. Her border collies are legendary, and they've produced great workers.) Too bad the AB 1634 authors don't know anything about the nature of agricultural work --- or good stockdogs.
[* pop *]
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I've just added the Michigan State University College of Law: Animal Legal & Historical Web Center to my list of links. This site has been a great resource for up-to-date, factual information on animal laws around the country. Great fun for info-wonks ;~) Enjoy.
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